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Probate-form update lowers error rates

The Courts Service has advised probate practitioners that the Dublin Probate Office is introducing revised Notice of Probate application forms.

The forms are now available on newly designed probate pages on the Courts Service website.

The change comes after the Dublin Probate Office recently ran a pilot project aimed at addressing the high query rates resulting from the paperwork and proofs submitted by solicitors not fully meeting the required criteria.

Speedier processing

The project, which involved solicitors from across the country, ran for ten weeks, and developed new forms that guided solicitors through the completion of an application.

The Courts Service described the outcome of the pilot as “very successful”, as it led to speedier processing of applications.

“Staff received applications that were much cleaner, with the majority of grants being issued on first assessment,” the courts body said.

Error rates

During the pilot, the office received 134 applications.

The error rate for probate applications fell from 45% to 16%, while the error rate for intestacy applications dropped from 60% to 38%.

Four new forms are now available on the Courts Service website:

• Probate application form,
• Intestacy application form,
• Will Annexed application form, and
• De Bonis Non application form.

From 18 October 2024, these forms will be the only forms that will be accepted by the Dublin Probate Office.